Cardboard Testimonies

This entry doesn't need words. Just click on the video and watch. You will be moved.
-xD

BREATHE!

Yes I finally got some time off to catch my breath. I did what Patrick Starr would do, absolutely nothing. Usually I am a fairly productive person, getting nearly everything done in a day. However, yesterday was different.

Yesterday, I didnt leave the house. Yesterday, I stayed in my pajamas all day. Yesterday, I didnt even turn the stove or microwave on. Yesterday, I fasted. Yesterday was the least productive day so far this year. I did absolutely NOTHING. But by 2:00pm I was starting to feel like I was going mad, because by 2:00pm my day is half over with. Up at 4:30, at work by 5, off work at 3:00, then off to either class or AWANA Clubs with my daughter by 4 or 5 in the evening.

But after working four six-day workweeks in a row, it was starting to take its toll on my body. I was to the point that I was literally waking up exhausted every morning. Where even brushing my teeth became a chore. With hypoglycemia, this doesnt bode very well at all. I made it through the weeks.

But this past week I didnt want to dissappoint my daughter, I kissed my incentive and a day of pay goodbye to take my daughter to the fair parade. But not only was I taking her to the parade - I was also having her ill-behaved cousin join us becuase his mother didnt want to take him. (That could take up another blog entry altogether later). So I spent all day Friday wrangling two pre-schoolers in the heat so they could enjoy the parade. My daughter was happy and that is all that matters to me.

This week only gets busier as I have my first test on Thursday night. Eek, this could be mind numbing - me and linear equations and their applications do not go well together. However, me and a 2 1/2 page rough draft for composition was WONDERFUL. If you haven't noticed, I like to write, I like to write well. Needless to say, I have nothing but straight A's in my compostion class. In Algebra, Im drowning in a suckhole of numbers and variables. I need a calculator that can solve all the variables for me. Just give me 'X' for Pete's sake!

But for tonight, Im going to sit back, watch a TV show or two, drink coffee then go to bed around 9:30 or 10. And back the grind at 4:30 in the morning. I finally got my much needed 3 day weekend, but at a cost I'm afraid.

Deaf Baptist has changed layouts again.

I grew tired of the dark page, and I think it was too much strain on the eyes so I opted for a new lighter layout that may or may not be better. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Also the widgets will be re-added tomorrow possibly.

I have been incredibly busy

Yes, I know it has been quite some time since I last posted an entry on here, but nonetheless I continue blogging on.

As you knew in previous posts, I had hopes of returning to school, well guess what - those hopes have materialized and I am now taking two courses at night at ATU - Russellville. I am taking composition and algebra. With me working full time, that is enough of a load to start with. I struggle with math as it is so I decided to pair it with an easy course such as comp so the stress isnt quite so much.

I go to class on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. Then my composition class is being taken online through the same school which helps. I hope to get these two courses knocked out this semester so that I can take comp II and Algebra for General Education requirements.

What am I going for you ask? I am working on getting my degree in English Education. I was previously a Journalism major. But I decided to switch as you know that journalism isnt exactly conducive to being a single mother.

So right now my week looks like this
M__________T_________W_____________T___________F
Work______Work______Work__________Work________Work
Class_____Check_____AWANA_________Class_____Football
_________ATU mail

WHEW! Plus I have had to work the last two Saturdays and my Sundays are booked solid everyweek, so I haven't really been able to catch my breath.

But today I finally got a breather, sort of. I went to work this morning, and there were no lights! I thought 'weird no lights'. I walked up to the group standing outside. There was no power whatsoever. So we ended up standing outside in the rain from 5:30 AM until 9:30 when they finally let us come home as we could not run any production. I was soaked. I had two options, either stand out side in the rain or go stand in the dark, stiffling break room where I couldnt see or breath. I decided to stay outside underneath the awning.

Due to no production today, that is a gauranteed full day of work on Saturday unless some of the chicken got too warm and they tossed it out, but I doubt it as the freezer is well insulated for this reason.

There is flooding here and if people do not show up for work in the morning and we run just a few lines, that also means we work Saturday, so this is just a bad week altogether to even plan anything for Saturday which I originally had - I was going to take my daughter to one of her friends birthday party Saturday afternoon and now we can't. I wont tell my daughter yet though until the sign is posted at work we are working on Saturday.

But I suppose the upside is that we stood outside and did nothing for four hours and got paid for it. Crazy.

Thats all for now, so I hope to have another update posted sometime soon.

A New Beginning.

Yes, it is that time of year again. Children return to the cool confines of schools across America, and parents return to the chaos of homework, athletics, and what have you not.

For me, this week also marks a new beginning. I, too, am also returning to school. More specifically to work on completing my Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts, majoring in English Education. I plan to teach at the secondary level, where hopefully the majority of students will have matured a bit.

I formally begin classes on Thursday night, going two nights a week, while also taking an online course, through the same University.

So yes, I am a single mother working full time as well as completing college coursework, and I'm deaf. The upside is, that from here until Christmas, dull moments are going to be few and far between. I plan to start living at twice the speed of life. I'm tired of droning through life like a lemming doing only what it is commanded to do.

I want to have fun, I want to LIVE. Health problems and piddly paychecks be damned.

What do I plan to do? One put back money starting now to plan a HUGE week-long vacation for next summer. I may do a week long road trip or I may spend a week at a resort of some sorting, flying out and flying back.

Secondly, I want to really put a dent in that degree I'm working on. I dont want to be one of those people that spend 10 years going to school for a 4 year degree. Finishing that ONLY when my own child starts college. Not good. I want to better her life NOW while she's young enough to enjoy and realize that mom made every effort for her.

Third, I want to do something I've never experienced. For most people I have already done it all, seen it all, blah blah. But there's a couple things on my Life's To Do list I want to mark off this year.
A) I want to fly in an airplane. Yep, that's correct. I have never been on an airplane. Not that I'm afraid of heights, its just that I have never been presented the chance to experience it.
B) I want to see the ocean. I know its not far, and I could probably get there in a day, but once again I have never been presented with the opportunity to see it in real life for myself. I want to know what the salty air smells like. I want to know what it feels like to walk on a beach with waves crashing at my feet.

A new beginning, a step into the light. I feel like I'm on the edge of something wonderful. Wish me well in the new beginning hoping that I succeed in at least one thing.

Political Hogwash in my Inbox

Yes its an election year complaint. If you have email and you've got friends, you've likely been 'forwarded' these political smear campaign emails claiming that one or both of the nominees are the 'Devil'.

An example of such hogwash:
Subject: Who is Barack Obama?



whether our bleeding-heart, secular, Liberal friends believe it or not. This man fits every description from =the Bible of the 'Anti-Christ'!

I'm just glad to know that there are others that are frightened by this =man!

Who is Barack Obama?

Very interesting and something that should be considered in your choice.

If you do not ever forward anything else, please
forward this to all your contacts...this is very scary to
think of what lies ahead of us here in our own United
States...better heed this and pray about it and share it.

=
/> snopes.com
< =
/> http://snopes.com >' confirms this
is factual. Check for yourself.

Who is Barack Obama?

Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack
Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu ,
Hawaii , to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM
from Nyangoma-Kogel , Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from
Wichita , Kansas =20

Obama's parents met at the
University of Hawaii .
When Obama was two years old, his parents
divorced. His father returned to
Kenya . His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL
Muslim from Indonesia . When Obama was 6 years
old, the family relocate
to Indonesia . Obama attended
& nbsp;a MUSLIM school in Jakarta . He also spent two
years in a Catholic school.

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that
he is a Muslim . He is quick to point out that, 'He was once
a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.'

Obama's political handlers are attempting to
make it appear that that he is not a radical.

Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this =
influence was
temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to
Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence =
over his
son's education.

Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, =
introduced his
stepson to Islam. Obama
was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta .

Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim =
terrorists
who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is =
politically
expedient to be a CHRIS TIAN when seeking major
public office in the United States , Barack Hussein Obama has
joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay
his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was
sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.
Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor will =
he show any
reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their =
hearts, Obama
turns his back to the flag and slouches. Do you want someone like this =
as your PRESIDENT?

Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential =
candidacy.

The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside =
out, what
better way to start than at the highest level - through the
President of the United States , one of their own! The
Bible says 'He will come from among you!'

Please forward to everyone you know.

Would you want this man leading our country?

NOT ME!!!

=20
WITHOUT GOD, WE ARE NOTHING!!!=20

=20

=20


What turns me off altogether from the very get-go is the fact that the Subject line contains the name of a Presidential candidate.

Secondly, skimming down the email, it is ill-formatted. The links are not true links to http://www.snopes.com. Hovering your cursor over them reveals another source code or 'link source' that is questionable and therefore I do not click. It is simply formatted to fool one into clicking the link. This chaps my rear-end for two reasons, one of which is obvious - it discredits a reputable source of information by 'piggybacking' the name to a dubious source of information. This is illegal, and in the brick and mortar world - their have been civil suits and large law suits over this practice.

Reading the actual content reveals even more bull, best put on your waders because it is about to get thick!
It first states that Barack Obama 'fits every discription of the Anti-Christ' from the book of Revelations. I think someone has been spending WAAAAAAY too much time watching those cheesy 'Left-Behind' movie series from the late 90s. Its Hollywood, it is fabricated, cannot be issued as fact, simply prophesy. It is impossible to state the future as fact because it has not happened yet. No one can really say what the Anti-Christ will look like or will manifest itself as. A Presidential Candidate is just a sitting duck for this type of stuff. A perfect target for the media, sadly.

Before it even gets to the juicy content - it begs the reader to forward it to all of their friends before really even reading it and considering it's 'message'. People who blidly forward this junk should be banished from the Internet altogether.

Then it offers the fake links to snopes.com claiming that it is factual.

Then it states that his parents are Muslim and Atheist. For Pete's sake, does it matter what diety one's parent's worship? This is a very weak argument for the sake of the smear campaign put forth by the McCain supporters. One's parents can be Wiccans and yet the person of discussion (in this case it is Obama) can be a Christian. You're not BORN into Christianity, you have to ask your way into it according to the Scriptures. Ah yes, more political hogwash, and sadly using religion to justify their words. They'll answer for it soon enough.

His parents divorced at age two - his mother then remarried to a supposed 'radical' Muslim. Again who cares, this is polital poop and not much more. My above statements reaffirm why this information is yet another weak argument for the McCain supporters.

When Obama was 6 his family relocated to Indonesia and he attended a Muslim school as well as a Catholic School. DOES IT MATTER WHERE HE WAS EDUCATED? Indonesia has a very large Muslim population as well as a Catholic population. Just because he wasnt educated in the public school system or a private Christian school in the good ole US of A doesnt mean he necessarily adheres to the beliefs of the Muslims or Catholics. Here in America where we want to admit it or not, we have Muslim and Jewish children attending Catholic or Christian charter schools right here. Why? Because it boils down to the fact that the parents want the best education possible for their children. Now couldnt it have been that Obama's Momma and Step-father only wanted to ensure that he got the best education possible regardless of the religious affiliation of the school? Absolutely. Some people just don't want to admit this.

'He takes great care to hide the fact that he is Muslim and that he once attended a Catholic school.' Well gee golly molly! Could it simply be that he converted from Islam to Christianity? I think someone is just wanting to beat the dead Muslim horse some more just for the sake of argument.

The final bits that his advisors and campaign handlers are downplaying his Islam and his affiliation to the Church of Christ and etc. And that he does not show reverence for the flag and that he used a Koran to be sworn into office?

DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHEN WE'VE GOT GUYS BUSTING THEIR TAILS OVERSEAS?

The part about irreverence is hooey. And those throwing a hissy fit over whether or not Obama wears a silly pin need to get a life.

Those who start and send such emails should put their hands on the computer desk and give it a good shove and push themselves AWAY from the computer and learn to get their information from more reputable sources other than random emails floating into their inboxes as well as their posterior.

For those of you who send me such emails - I never read them, I simply toss them into the junk box without ever opening them. But for the sake of blogging I opened one today to use as an example in my blog. :)

Neon Bird

Some of you may have noticed the neon bird widget at the footer of this page, if you haven't scroll down to the bottom for a moment to take a peek. It is a countdown ticker for a DVD release of Darren Hayes' 'Time Machine Tour'.

But you mostly notice the neon bird, the origami crane which is the main theme for the entire album and DVD series for this go around. (For the record he is possibly working on some new stuff, but nothing for sure yet, just a mention of being in between albums on his blog.)

Well if you go to www.neonbird.com, you can learn how to make an origami swan. (I have made a trio of them ranging from large to small.)

Darren has decided to launch an experiment of random kindness, and your left wondering what does origami have anything to do with kindness?

Well in ancient Japanese tradition, the unfolding of paper releases a wish to be fullfilled.

What you are supposed to do is, get some square paper and write a wish on it for a friend, a relative, or a random person. Then follow the instructions on neonbird.com on how to properly fold it. Once you have folded it, write 'A wish for you' on one of the wings then leave your swan in random places, mail it, leave it at their door step, office desk, anywhere. You can even directly hand them to their reciepients as a small gift.

I will continue practicing on a few more until I have gotten perfection with them. Once I am satisfied, I will purchase origami paper from a craft store then make several to send to the people I care about.

I will post photos of them before delivering them.

Also if you want to take part in the neon bird version, be sure to write 'www.neonbird.com' somewhere on the swan so that they will visit and hopefully 'register' their swans with th site.

There is nothing quite like seeing the smile of someones face when they receive a random act of kindness. This is just one unique way of saying/doing so. Be sure to check back for pictures in the next day or so.